Permanent lagging



May 23, 1961 L. D. FRANCE PERMANENT LAGGING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1959 INVENTOR. L. 0. France May 23, 1961 D. FRANCE 2,984,372

PERMANENT LAGGING Filed April 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR.

L.. 0. France United States Patent 2,984,872 PERMANENT LAGGING L. D. France, 4010 43rd St., Lubbock, Tex., assignor of one-half to Wiley Claude Williams, Ropesville, Tex.

Filed Apr. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 805,493

12 Claims. (Cl. 19-75) This invention relates to a permanent metallic lagging and more particularly to lagging formed from a pair of flexibly joined metallic straps particularly suited for use in the vacuum feed apparatus of cotton gins.

Modern cotton gin installations incorporate a substantial amount of expensive and relatively complex machinery-for automatically performing a number of operations upon the cotton being processed. The major machine components to name only a few, include strippers, separators, burr extractors, feeders, cleaners, conveyors, de-linters, and associated equipment. Much of the automatic conveying of the cotton between the operational stations of a cotton gin is accomplished by causing the cotton to be carried along in a stream of drying air.

Rotating reels and vacuum wheels are ordinarily employed at many different points in the ginning process. They are usually found for example, at any point where cotton or waste matter removed from the cotton must be either dropped from or introduced into an area in which the air is moving continuously in one direction by reason of the suction imparted by conventional impellers provided for this purpose without causing an appreciable loss of either suction or positive pressure differential as the case may be. If appreciable suction is lost and the air flow not sufiiciently maintained, the cotton or waste matter may move back into the machinery which it previously passed through.

Resilient lagging material in the form of rubber or a combination rubber fiber belting, cut to proper length, is presently used to terminate the blades of cotton gin reels and vacuum wheels used in feeding into and dropping solid material from an air stream. However, because of the high drying temperatures employed in cotton gins and the substantial abrasive usage to which the lagging is subjected, conventional rubber and rubber covered fabric belting is very short lived and must be replaced at relatively frequent intervals depending upon the heat present where it is used and the type of material being handled. The shut-down time for the entire ginning operation while lagging is being replaced varies from one to six hours depending upon the piece of machinery in which the lagging is situated. This frequent replacement therefore constitutes a serious disadvantage evidenced by the rubber and combination rubber fiber lagging materials heretofore utilized in cotton gins.

The present invention avoids the above-mentioned difiiculties by providing a permanent lagging in the form of steel or other suitable metal having a flexible joint. In the normal unstressed position, a pair of preferably steel straps are held straight in a single plane by means of torsion springs but may be flexed during operation to maintain a proper seal between the various portions of a cotton gin.

The lagging of the present invention is completley unafiected by extreme heat found in cotton gins using hot air for drying cotton. Furthermore, it is more resistant to wear resulting from the abrasive action of wiping "ice cotton, dirt, seed or any other matter handled by a vacuum feeder in a cotton gin when compared with known type lagging constructions.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel permanent type abrasive lagging.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent lagging for use with rotating cotton gin machinery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible metallic lagging for vacuum equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent lagging for the blades of cotton gin vacuum feeders and separators.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reference to the following specification claims and appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a cotton gin vacuum dropper utilizing the novel vacuum wheel lagging of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the attachment of the lagging to the wheel spider of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the novel lagging structure of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the lagging of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the lagging of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the lagging shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 shows one of the tension springs incorporated in the lagging of the present invention; and

Figure 8 shows the lagging of the present invention used for removing burrs from the paddle wheels of a cotton gin burr extractor.

While the present invention will be specifically described in conjunction with lagging employed at the ends of the paddles formed on the vacuum wheel of a cotton gin tumbler or dropper, it will be understood that the lagging of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with a wide variety of gin machinery such as on separator reels, in vacuum seed feeders, vacuum dirt feeders, inclined feeders and deflectors. Furthermore, while particularly suited for use in conjunction with the high temperatures and abrasion experienced in cotton gin equipment, other advantageous uses of the lagging of the present invention under similar conditions are readily apparent.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a conventional type cotton gin dropper generally indicated at 10 including a vacuum housing 12 surrounding a rotatable vacuum wheel 14 mounted on a rotating shaft 16. Vacuum wheel 14 includes a spider 18 having pairs of outwardly extending radial plates 20 and 22.

As best seen in Figure 2, plates 20 and 22 terminate in spaced parallel edge portions 24 and 26 respectively to form the paddles 28 of the vacuum wheel 14. Received between the edge portions 24 and 26 of each pair of plates is a novel lagging member 30 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Vacuum housing 12 includes a pair of upper spaced flanges 32 and 34 and corresponding lower flanges 36 and 38 for attachment -to cooperating elements of a cotton gin. For example, upper flanges 32 and 34 conventionally connect the vacuum housing to a reel housing with the two housings and enclosed structure combining to form a complete cotton gin separator. The lower flanges 36 and 38 connect the vacuum housing to any suitable receptacle such as a bin, hopper or air stream inlet depending upon the next stage of operation as well as the particular material involved.

As illustrated by the arrows in Figure l of the drawing, cotton which has been separated from its seeds in the upper portion of the separator passes downwardly between flanges 32 and 34 to be picked up by the paddles 28 of the vacuum wheel 14. With shaft 16 rotating in a counterclockwise direction as indicated, the cotton or other material is carried around to the bottom of the casing to fall by gravity out between lower flanges 36 and 3t During this dropping or feeding of cotton, the pressure diife'rential between the apparatus abovethe vacuum Wheel and the apparatus below the wheel is maintained by the seal provided by the'physioal cont act between the lagging members 30 and the inner walls of the housing 12.

Each of the lagging members 3Q of the present invention comprises a pair of substantially solid metallic straps 4t) and 42 mounted on oppositely directed hinge plates 44 and 46. Metal straps'40 and 42 are preferably made of steel and may be. welded, brazed or otherwise suitably secured to "hinge plates 44 and '46 to provide 'a tight permanent bond between the respective elements.

Hinge plates '44 and 46 are connected by leaves 48 and 50 to a hinge post or rod 52 extending lengthwise of the lagging between straps 40 and 42.

Metallic strap 42 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots as best se en in Figures 3 and 6 which slots serve to receive andconfine one outwardly extending end 58 of acoiled torsion spring 60 surrounding the hinge post or rod 52. at spaced intervals coincident with the slots 56 in strap 42. The other end 62ofeach of the springs 64 is similarly received in. and retained by appropriate slots in strap 40 one of which is indicated by dotted lines at 64in Figures 3 and 4. Springs 60 are preferably formed so that the outwardly extending arms 58 and 62 lie in substantially a single plane when the'spring is in the unstressed position. Springs 60 therefore tend to maintain straps 40"and 42 as well as hinge plates 44 and 46 in substantially a'straight line position such as that indicated in Figures 4. through 6 of the drawing. Springs 60 resiliently resist flexure of the hinge about the hinge rod in either direction from a rest position.

During actual use in a cotton gin wherein the lagging members physically rub against an inner wall such as the inner wall of vacuum housing 12 shown in Figure 1;, sliding friction causes the springs'60'to be flexed so that the lagging straps assume the approximate flexed position illustratedin Figures 2 and 3' of'the drawings. The amount of bend or fiexure of each lagging strip 30 is of course, determined by a number of factors including the roundness of the housing 12 so that the particular flexure may vary from one lagging member to'the next of a single vacuum wheel such as wheel 14 of Figure 1.

Metallic strap '42 and cooperating hinge plates 46 of each of the lagging members 30 are preferably machined to provide a plurality of elongated slots such as those indicated at 66in Figures 3 and 4 so that the lagging members 30 may be adjusted between 'the end portions 24 and 26 of the converging paddle plates 20 and 22. The lagging members 30 are secured between plates 20 and 22 by means of an appropriate bolting arrangement indicated generally'at 70 in Figure 2 with a bolt passing through each of the slots 66;

Figure 8 shows the novel lagging member 30 of the present invention utilized in conjunction'with a cotton gin burr extractor; Conventional cotton gin burr extractor construction includes a saw-tooth wheel (not shown) which catchm the cotton and brings it against a stripper roller indicated in Figure 8 at 72 mounted on a suitable shaft 74. Stripper roller 72 is provided around its periphery with a plurality of beaters or paddles 76 which are utilized to knock burrs ed the cotton;

A lagging member'30 as shown in Figure 8 is positioned adjacent the stripper roller 72"with its edge intercepting the path of movement of'the beaters or paddles 76. Lagging 30 may be supported in a'stationary position from a suitable supporting frame indicated: at 78 bymeans of an angle iron 80 and a back-up plate82. With angle iron 80 welded or otherwise suitably secured to frame 78,

lagging 30 is positioned between the angle iron and backup plate 82 and clamped and securely held between members and 82 by means of a plurality of spaced bolts 84. In the construction shown in Figure 8, stationarily positioned member 30 is used to remove burrs from the heaters or paddles 76 as they rotate and move past the lower edge of the lagging member.

As can be seen the present invention provides a novel permanent lagging particularly suited for use in conventional cotton gin equipment. The permanent lagging of the present invention is adapted to replace the rubber and fabric belt-type lagging commonly employed in cotton gins and exhibits a substantially imprp ved resistance to wear and immunity to the elevated temperatures of the drying air passing through a major portion of the cotton gin equipment.

The adjustability in position as well as the fact that the individual spring members 60 maybe varied in accordance with the desired flexibility makes the novel lagging members of the present invention particularly suited for a wide variety of applications in conjunction with rotating equipment. The lagging strips are extremely rugged and of relatively inexpensive construction and will last substantially the lifetime of the equipment in which they are employed being subject only to the usual Wear factors which aflect the equipment itself.

Various modifications and applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art such as the fact that the composition of the metallic straps 40 and 42 may be varied in weight and strength with the particular application as well as the fact that one or both straps may be positioned upon the opposite side of the hinge plates with the springs 60 modified accordingly. Similarly, straps 40 and 42 may be formed separately and suitably secured to the hinge plates or if desired each of the straps may be formed integrally'with its supporting hinge plate.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential'characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are'therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: v

1. A lagging strip comprisinga hinge including a hinge rod and a pair of outwardly extending hinge plates, a metallic strap secured to each of said plates, said straps including a plurality of outwardly extending'slots adjacent said hinge plates and communicating with said rod, a plurality'of springs encircling saidrod, 'sa'idspring having outwardly extending arms received in said slots, said arms resisting movement of said plates about said hinge rod.

2. A lagging strip according to claim '1 in which said outwardly extending spring arms lie in substantially a common plane.

3. A lagging strip according to claim 2 in which said metal is steel.

4. A lagging strip according to, claim 3 in. which one said bar and plate include a plurality of elongated slots for attachment to the outer end of arotating paddle.

5. A cotton gin vacuum dropper comprising a substantially annular housing, a vacuum wheelincluding a plurality of paddles rotatably mounted, within said housing, a lagging strip on the end ofeach paddle engaging the inner surface of said housing, -said lagging strip comprising a hinge including a hinge rodand a pair of outwardly extending hinge plates, a metallic strap secured to eachof said plates, said straps including a plurality of outwardly extending slots adjacent said hinge plates and communicating with said rod, a plurality of springs encircling said rod, said springs having outwardly extending received in said slots, said arms resisting movement of said plates about said hinge rod.

6. A cotton gin vacuum dropper according to claim 5 in which each said lagging strip is flexed against said housing with the hinged portion thereof extending in the direction of rotation of said paddles in advance of the outer housing-contacting edge of said strip.

7. A rotary cotton gin unit comprising a housing, a plurality of paddles rotatably mounted in said housing, a lagging strip on the end of each paddle, said lagging strip comprising a hinge including a hinge rod and a pair of outwardly extending hinge plates, a metallic strap secured to each of said plates, said straps including a plurality of outwardly extending slots adjacent said hinge plates and communicating with said rod, a plurality of springs encircling said rod, said springs having outwardly extending arms received in said slots, said arms resisting movement of said plates about said hinge rod.

8. A cotton gin unit comprising a rotatable stripper roller, said roller including a plurality of heaters projecting from the periphery thereof for knocking burrs from cotton, a stationary lagging strip positioned adjacent the path of movement of said heaters, said lagging strip comprising a hinge including a hinge rod and a pair of outwardly extending hinge plates, a metallic strap secured to each of said plates, said straps including a plurality of outwardly extending slots adjacent said hinge plates and communicating with said rod, a plurality of springs encircling said rod, said springs having outwardly extending arms received in said slots, said arms resisting movement of said plates about said hinge rod.

9. A unit according to claim 8 in which said spring arms lie in substantially a common plane.

10. A lagging strip comprising a hinge including a hinge rod, a pair of fiat, rigid rectangular plates hinged to and extending outwardly from opposite sides of said rod, and spring means passing around said rod and having 0ppositely directed arms engaging said plates, said spring means acting to resiliently resist movement of said plates about said rods in either direction from a rest position.

11. A lagging strip according to claim 10 wherein said plates have enclosed slots passing therethrough and communicating with said rod, and said spring arms are received in said slots.

12. A lagging strip according to claim 11 wherein said plates are metallic.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,115 Kindseth June 19, 1956 

